They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System-Chapter 432: Uncontrollable Hatred

Arthur’s eyes flicked toward the center of the range again and again. He said nothing, but he saw it.

Ava stood tall with pride as her next arrow landed in the heart of her target. Jana clenched her jaw in determination and struck gold soon after.

And then there was Nnenna.

Each time she fired, there was a quiet grace to her movements, a natural rhythm, fluid and precise. She learned not by brute force, but by instinct and sharp observation.

Arthur folded his arms. His gaze lingered on her for a fraction longer than he intended.

He said nothing.

But deep down, he was impressed.

For Nnenna, it was almost effortless.

By her third trial, her arrow sailed smoothly through the air, thwack! straight into the bullseye. Clean. Controlled. Precise.

She didn’t react. No gasp, no smile. Just calmly notched another arrow, eyes narrowed, focused.

Ava, on the other hand, got it on her eighth try. She frowned, her pride stung, but quickly masked it with a flick of her hair and a forced smirk. She was still one of the best... right?

The other fast learners, the so called geniuses of the class, needed no more than twenty tries. That alone was impressive in such a complex technique, and Arthur finally nodded, the corner of his lips twitching in subtle approval.

"Very good," he said, his deep voice low and smooth.

Then, without warning, he appeared right behind Nnenna.

"Your form," he said gently, his tone strangely softer, "is excellent."

"Thank you," Nnenna replied softly, without turning around. She didn’t stop, didn’t pause. She simply took another arrow and drew it back again.

It was better to keep going, to perfect it, to escape the tension crawling up her neck.

But Arthur didn’t move.

He stood behind her like a silent shadow, watching her with quiet intensity. His usually cool demeanor softened just a little, the edges melting. It was as if, for that moment, there were no other students in the entire arena.

Ava noticed.

She had hit the center several times now, on the ninth, the tenth, and twelfth try, each shot a little better than the last. Each one was supposed to impress him. She even adjusted her posture to be more graceful, more poised.

But he hadn’t looked her way once.

All his focus, all his attention... was glued to Nnenna.

Ava’s jaw tightened. Her hand trembled slightly as she notched another arrow. She didn’t even realize she was holding her breath until it slipped out in a sharp exhale.

Frustration boiled quietly beneath her flawless appearance.

Ava’s fingers tightened around the grip of her bow.

For a split second, just a second, a wicked thought crept in: What if I "accidentally" aimed at Nnenna instead of the target?

But just as quickly as it came, her eyes widened in horror.

What the hell am I thinking?

Her heart dropped. The bow in her hands felt suddenly foreign, like it didn’t belong to her.

Since when had she started thinking like that? Since when had she become someone who wanted to hurt others, on purpose?

No. No... that’s not who I am.

Her parents, her brothers, Arthur, Somto, Carl, had always taught her better. They lived by principles, by strength rooted in restraint and grace. She had prided herself on those values. She respected their words deeply... cherished them even.

Ava inhaled sharply and closed her eyes for a moment.

Then she squared her shoulders and faced the target once again, pushing the darkness from her mind. Focus, Ava. You’re better than that.

But while Ava was battling the shadows in her own mind, someone else was sinking deeper into theirs.

Jana.

She stood a little farther off, watching the entire scene unfold, and it made her blood simmer.

That girl. That Nnenna.

First, she tricked everyone by arriving late and pretending to be average. Then she captured Prince Carl’s attention with her "I don’t care" and "I’m so innocent" attitude.

And now... now, even the cold, unreachable Prince Arthur was hovering near her like some loyal guardian.

Jana’s fists curled so tightly her nails dug into her palms.

Why is it always her? Why does she get the ones I deserve?

She shot a glare at Nnenna, who, oblivious, continued practicing, calm and serene.

And that made it worse. So much worse.

She doesn’t even try. She doesn’t even care.

Jana gritted her teeth, thoughts spiraling again.

And Carl ... He was supposed to be different. He was supposed to notice her, the smart one, the hard working one, the one who deserved to be looked at!

But still, he hadn’t approached her once.

Even though he glanced her way in class... even though their eyes had met... he still hadn’t made a move.

What does she have that I don’t?

She tried to suppress the storm rising in her chest, but it was too late. It was already brewing.

Now that I’ve finally set my sights on someone else...

She’s already trying to bewitch him too?

How hateful.

Jana’s mind boiled with envy. Her gaze burned holes into the back of Nnenna’s head.

She always acts innocent... always looks like she doesn’t care.

But it’s fake. It’s all fake. She’s a temptress in disguise, fooling every man into orbiting around her like she’s some kind of goddess.

Her breathing grew uneven. Her grip on the bow tightened until her knuckles turned white.

Then came the thought.

Dark. Twisted. Terrifying.

She can’t charm anyone with that face... if she doesn’t have it anymore.

The idea shocked even her at first.

But as if fueled by the hatred churning inside her chest, a terrible boldness flooded her veins. Her arm moved on its own. Her fingers pulled the string back. Her eyes locked on Nnenna’s calm, focused face.

And she fired.

The arrow sliced through the air like a vengeful spirit.

But the very second it left the bow, everything crashed down.

The hatred vanished.

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